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How important are supermarkets for the diets of the urban poor in Africa?
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How important are supermarkets for the diets of the urban poor in Africa?

Author

Listed:
  • Rosina Wanyama

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Theda Gödecke

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Christine G. K. Chege

    (International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Regional Office for Africa)

  • Matin Qaim

    (University of Goettingen)

Abstract

Many developing countries are undergoing a profound transformation of food systems and retail environments. Especially in urban areas, a rapid growth of supermarkets is observed, which can affect consumer food choices and diets. Supermarkets may improve access to diverse foods at affordable prices, but may also encourage a switch from unprocessed to highly-processed and energy-dense foods that contribute to obesity. However, the use of supermarkets is positively correlated with income. That supermarkets already play an important role for the diets of many urban consumers does not necessarily mean that this is also true for the poorest population segments that are of particular interest for development policy. This article analyzes the diets and food purchase patterns of poor urban consumers in Kenya and Uganda. Representative data were collected from households in the slums of Nairobi and Kampala. The data show that the majority of these households are undernourished. They buy most food items in unprocessed form from various traditional retail outlets, including mom-and-pop shops, local markets, and kiosks. Relatively few sample households buy any of their food in supermarkets. Supermarkets account for only 3% and 0.4% of all food expenditures of slum dwellers in Nairobi and Kampala, respectively. Reasons for the low supermarket use of these poor households are discussed. The findings suggest that a focus on the modern retail sector alone will not suffice to ensure food and nutrition security for all.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosina Wanyama & Theda Gödecke & Christine G. K. Chege & Matin Qaim, 2019. "How important are supermarkets for the diets of the urban poor in Africa?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(6), pages 1339-1353, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:11:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-019-00974-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00974-3
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    Cited by:

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    3. Rosina Wanyama & Theda Gödecke & Matin Qaim, 2019. "Food Security and Dietary Quality in African Slums," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Davis, Jac & Magadzire, Nyasha & Hemerijckx, Lisa-Marie & Maes, Tijs & Durno, Darryn & Kenyana, Nobelusi & Lwasa, Shuaib & Van Rompaey, Anton & Verburg, Peter H. & May, Julian, 2022. "Precision approaches to food insecurity: A spatial analysis of urban hunger and its contextual correlates in an African city," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Christine G. Kiria Chege & Rosina Wanyama & Mark Lundy & Wilson Nguru & Matthias Jäger, 2021. "Does Retail Food Diversity in Urban Food Environments Influence Consumer Diets?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Travis J. Lybbert & Stella Nordhagen & Stephen A. Vosti & Lynnette M. Neufeld, 2024. "Improving nutrition through blended finance and impact investing in small and medium enterprises in sub‐Saharan Africa," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(2), pages 456-474, June.
    7. Nordhagen, Stella & Igbeka, Uduak & Rowlands, Hannah & Shine, Ritta Sabbas & Heneghan, Emily & Tench, Jonathan, 2021. "COVID-19 and small enterprises in the food supply chain: Early impacts and implications for longer-term food system resilience in low- and middle-income countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    8. Roy, Anne-Sophie & Mazaniello-Chézol, Maud & Rueda-Martinez, Maria & Shafique, Sohana & Adams, Alayne M., 2023. "Food systems determinants of nutritional health and wellbeing in urban informal settlements: A scoping review in LMICs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    9. Mockshell, Jonathan & Ogutu, Sylvester O. & Álvarez, Diego & Asante-Addo, Collins & Asante, Felix A., 2022. "How healthy and food secure is the urban food environment in Ghana?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    10. Ngozi, Semeni & Wineman, Ayala & Maredia, Mywish K. & Tschirley, David & Fisher, Ian & Khaled, Nahian Bin, 2024. "Patterns and Drivers of Packaged (Fortified) Maize Flour Purchase in Urban and Peri-Urban Kenya," IAAE 2024 Conference, August 2-7, 2024, New Delhi, India 344386, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).
    11. Giroux, Stacey & Blekking, Jordan & Waldman, Kurt & Resnick, Danielle & Fobi, Daniel, 2021. "Informal vendors and food systems planning in an emerging African city," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Lisa-Marie Hemerijckx & Katarzyna Janusz & Sam Emelen & Samuel Tumwesigye & Jac Davis & Shuaib Lwasa & Anton Rompaey, 2022. "Food accessibility of different socioeconomic groups in sub-Saharan African cities: a mixed-method analysis in Kampala, Uganda," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(3), pages 677-694, June.
    13. Liu, Zhen & Kornher, Lukas & Qaim, Matin, 2023. "Impacts of supermarkets on child nutrition in China," Discussion Papers 335389, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).

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